Climate action in the Border region.

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Unprecedented alliance calls for zero pollution in Australia

As global pressure builds and the government considers its post 2020 climate targets this week, a diverse and unprecedented alliance of more than 50 civil society groups [including WATCH] are calling on parliamentarians to commit to zero carbon pollution in Australia by 2050 at the latest.

In an open letter released today, the groups state that “Australia and Australian people stand to lose so much from the impacts of climate change; it is in our national interest to be amongst the leading nations to ensure the world limits warming to well below 2 degrees. A zero carbon pollution future is possible, and it is all of our responsibility to make that future a reality for our children, and their children.”

The groups include representatives from environmental, aid, legal, health, union, farming, social services and religious sectors, signalling the broad implications of climate change in Australia, but also the potential to unlock major new economic opportunities.

As the letter explains, “a pathway to net zero carbon pollution is an opportunity to modernise the Australian economy and build sustainable prosperous future. Economic modelling shows that under a low carbon pathway the economy will continue to grow to 2.5 times its current size by 2050, and not only will all industries continue to grow, some like agriculture will actually do better.”